1. A Nation of Immigrants

2. EQ What is the difference between Old and New Immigrants?
What is the distinction between old and new aside from the date of arrival?
What are the push/pull factors involved in immigration?
Which analogy is better? The Melting Pot or the Salad Bowl?

3. Old Immigrants “Old” Immigrants
immigrants who came to America before 1880
Old Immigrants came mostly from northern and western Europe:
Great Britain
Ireland
Germany
Holland
France
Scandinavia

5. Old Immigrants
Most Americans welcomed Old Immigrants for following reasons:
needed as workers for factories, mines, railroads
became farmers and settlers for western lands
served in all branches of U.S. military
EX: Irish Brigade in the Civil War

6. Old Immigrants Northern Europe: Great Britain, Ireland and Germany
Many spoke the language
Most were Christians, especially Protestants
Many came looking for cheap land that was available in the west
Homestead Act encouraged the settlement of immigrants
The building of railroads
No laws limiting immigration

7. Resistance to Immigration
Know Nothing Party ( ) opposed immigration for following reasons:
considered immigrants cheap source of labor who took American jobs
believed immigrants would not assimilate into American culture
hated Catholics

8. Anti-Catholicism

10. New Immigrants

11. New Immigrants
Southern and Eastern: Poland, Greece, Austria and Russia
Very poor
Spoke little or NO English
Many Jews included
Faced tremendous hardships in Europe
Faced resistance for Native born Americans
New Immigration laws restricting Immigration

12. New Immigrants
many Americans opposed New Immigrants for following reasons:
cheap western land no longer available
therefore forced to live in cities
created ethnic ghettos and did not assimilate into American culture
competed against Americans for factory jobs
considered mentally inferior

13. Why They Came Push Factors Political Freedom. Religious Freedom.
Escape horrible conditions of poverty.
The potato famine in Ireland during the 1840’s

14. Why They Came Famine caused deaths of thousands.
Job opportunities were extremely limited.
Russian Jews fled violent government, which sponsored against them
Expansion of railroads of Europe led to demise of traditional jobs and of farms

15. Resistance to Immigration
The Rise of Nativism
Nativist was very hostile towards immigrants
Nativist believed that they were superior to other races and religions
Many nativist were known as the Know-Nothings.
Wanted stricter laws keeping immigrants out of the country
Believed immigrants lowered the standard of living.
Believed immigrants took many job opportunities away from Americans

16. Know-Nothing Party

17. Nativism

18. Establishing A New Life
The Process of Becoming Americanized
Immigrants faced great hardships on their initial trip to America
Americanized
Learning to act, speak, and live like other Americans; assimilation

19. Establishing A New Life
Initial Hardships
Extremely poor
City life was quite difficult to adjust too
Speaking the language was difficult
Customs and culture were different
Disgusting places to live
Faced hostility from Native born individuals

20. Establishing A New Life
Ethnic Ghettos
This is where the same nationality, live together in the same neighborhood
They live together many times to cope with problems
They speak the same language
Feel comfortable living with individuals of their own heritage (“birds of a feather….”)
Ghettos made it difficult to assimilate

21. Establishing A New Life
The Assimilation of the Immigrant’s Children
 Some attended school
Adults were too busy working and caring for family to learn the language
Learning the language would have to come from school
Easier to become assimilated for younger adults

22. Establishing A New Life
Assimilation
 The “Melting Pot” Theory
All cultures melting into a new, unique, American culture
Adopting American cultures
Learning the language
Accepting different customs, for example, food

23. Establishing A New Life
Cultural Pluralism
This is the “Salad Bowl” theory
Each ethnic group is proud of their culture
Each individual culture blends with the others but retains it own uniqueness
Will not adopt American ways
Will live side by side, but will not share common cultural values and beliefs
Will not learn language

24. Anti-Asian Sentiment *Chinese Exclusion Act, 1882 *Gentlemen’s
Agreement,1907

25. Early Restrictions (1880-1920)
Chinese Exclusion Act {1882}:
prohibited immigration of Chinese laborers for ten years
also denied citizenship to Chinese already in America

27. Early Restrictions (1880-1920)
Gentleman’s Agreement Act (1907)
Japanese government promised to limit future immigration to the United States
Japanese Protested California schools for segregation of Japanese children
Compromise was worked out
President Roosevelt halted Segregation if Japan limited future immigration to the United States

28. Emergency Quota Acts 1921,1924

29. Early Restrictions (1880-1920)
Emergency Quota Acts {1921,1924}:
limited the number of immigrants each country could send to America
eventually prohibited all Asian immigration
There were no limitations placed on immigration in the Western Hemisphere

30. The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door
Emma Lazarus, 1883